Fallen officer remembered, praised by chief

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu Police Officer Garret Davis was "a fine young officer beginning his career with the HPD," according to Police Chief Louis Kealoha.

Davis, 28, died Saturday night after his patrol car was hit by a pickup truck on the H-1 Freeway near the Kaonohi overpass in Aiea.

Kealoha spoke to reporters at HPD headquarters Sunday. He paused at a small memorial to Davis before making a statement.

Chief Kealoha said Davis had stopped to assist a stalled motorist in the left lane in the eastbound direction. "Officer Davis turned on his blue lights and stopped behind the stalled vehicle to shield it from oncoming traffic, and to alert other drivers to the stall," he said.

"He was on a routine assignment, taking paperwork from the Wahiawa station to the main station when he stopped to help the stalled motorist," Kealoha said.

Davis, originally from California, joined HPD in July 2008, and was assigned to District 2, which includes Wahiawa, Mililani and the North Shore.

Kealoha said Davis received the HPD Certificate of Merit in 2010 for saving a suicidal woman in waters about two miles offshore of Haleiwa. "Although not a swimmer himself, Officer Davis assisted lifeguards on a personal watercraft, and was able to bring the woman to shore safely," the police chief said. "Last night, he was again trying to help others when the fatal collision occurred."

HPD said Davis is survived by a young daughter and his mother, both in California.

Kealoha noted that this is the second time in less than months that a Honolulu police officer has been killed. Officer Eric Fontes died in September after a pickup truck crashed into him during a traffic stop on Farrington Highway near the Ko Olina exit.

"Our officers risk their lives daily to protect their community. And I am pleading with all of you to help protect them by driving with care when you see them performing their duties on our highways and freeways," said Kealoha.

"We are devastated by this loss, and we send our prayers and condolences to his family," he said.